Lost parrot found after 24 days

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LOS ANGELES, July 28 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles woman said her African gray parrot was found about 2 miles from home more than three weeks after flying away from her owner's back yard.

Alexis Readinger said Lola the parrot flew away June 26 and she spent the ensuing weeks searching for her using billboards, Craigslist postings, a psychic, bloodhounds and a pet detective, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

Margaret Starr, who lives about 2 miles away from Readinger, said she found the bird 24 days later on the balcony of her home. Starr said she saw Readinger's Craigslist ad and called the woman to say she could retrieve her pet.

Readinger said she identified Lola by a scar on one of her talons.

Starr said she and her husband, Marvin Friedenn, found themselves missing the parrot once it was gone, so Readinger, who they asked to donate the $2,000 reward money to a cat charity, spent a portion of the reward buying them a parrot of their own.